04-10-2013, 03:00 AM
Blunt trauma is seriously over-rated. I've worn a heavy weave of mail (similar to a Roman hamata) that was lined with four layers of linen and tested it for impact. I was shot with blunt arrows (70 lb draw, 10m range), and hit with blunt spears, swords, and baseball bats. The blows were hard enough to knock me off balance. There were some welts on my skin but there was no bruising.
Some of the lighter weaves that re-enactors are importing from India are not so resistant to blunt trauma, but most Roman mail was heavier than the Indian stuff. Usually when you see lighter variants of mail it is layered with another defense such as a brigandine or padded jack.
One side benefit from this weekend of wackyness is that I now know how to catch arrows and thrown spears
It is a neat party trick but I wouldn't recommend it in battle. It only works when you are 10m or more away, can see it coming, there is only one at a time, and you are ready for it.
Some of the lighter weaves that re-enactors are importing from India are not so resistant to blunt trauma, but most Roman mail was heavier than the Indian stuff. Usually when you see lighter variants of mail it is layered with another defense such as a brigandine or padded jack.
One side benefit from this weekend of wackyness is that I now know how to catch arrows and thrown spears
It is a neat party trick but I wouldn't recommend it in battle. It only works when you are 10m or more away, can see it coming, there is only one at a time, and you are ready for it.
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen & Sword Books
